Maryland voters approve of the Senator Barbara Mikulski’s work in Washington and will most likely reelect her this coming fall. 54% of Marylanders give the Senator high marks, 39% disapprove. Maryland voters choose Mikulski over either one of her potential challengers 2:1.

Both Republican candidates lack name recognition. 82% of voters say they are unsure of their opinion of James Rutledge and only 10% of voters have formed an opinion of Eric Wargotz. Only 6% of Republicans have a favorable opinion of Rutledge and a mere 1% of Maryland Republicans have a favorable opinion of Wargotz.

Mikulski enjoys a 76% approval rating from fellow Maryland Democrats. 41% of Independents approve and 32% disapprove of the Senator. Furthermore, Mikulski has a more favorable rating amongst Republicans than either of her Republican challengers.
14% of Republicans approve of their senior Senator.

“It is clear that Mikulski is not vulnerable,” said Dean Debnam of Public Policy Polling.
“It is also evident that Republicans have not put forward a winning candidate and with
numbers like these it would be unwise for Republicans to waste their resources on this
race.”

PPP surveyed 569 Maryland voters from July 10th-12th. The survey’s margin of error is +/- 4.1%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at
(888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.

Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 56%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 39%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 5%

Q2 Do you support or oppose President Obama’s
health care plan, or do you not have an
opinion?
Support ………………………………………………….. 53%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 39%
No Opinion……………………………………………… 7%

Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Barbara Mikulski’s job performance?
Approve ……………… 54%
Disapprove………….. 32%
Not Sure……………… 14%

Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of James Rutledge?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 5%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 82%

Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Eric Wargotz?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 1%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 89%

Q6 If the candidates for Senate this fall were
Democrat Barbara Mikulski and Republican
James Rutledge, who would you vote for?
Barbara Mikulski ……………………………………… 58%
James Rutledge………………………………………. 30%
Undecided………………………………………………. 12%

Q7 If the candidates for Senate this fall were
Democrat Barbara Mikulski and Republican
Eric Wargotz, who would you vote for?
Barbara Mikulski ……………………………………… 59%
Eric Wargotz …………………………………………… 27%
Undecided………………………………………………. 14%

Q8 Who did you vote for President last year?
John McCain…………………………………………… 36%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 59%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 5%

Q9 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 24%
Moderate………………………………………………… 45%
Conservative…………………………………………… 32%

Q10 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 56%
Man……………………………………………………….. 44%

Q11 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 60%
Republican……………………………………………… 28%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 12%

Q12 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 69%
African-American …………………………………….. 25%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%

Q13 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 8%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 26%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 41%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 25%